Help ICT make strides in 2024. Our goal is to raise $150,000 by the end of the year with generous contributions from funding partners and collaborators like you. We’re thankful for your support, and we’re thriving because of it. DONATE TODAY!
Shirley Sneve
ICT
Health care professionals are warning of a triple threat facing Indian Country. Cases of three respiratory illnesses are on the rise among Indigenous people. Epidemiologist Dean Seneca told ICT that RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), the flu and COVID-19 threaten to overwhelm hospital emergency departments.
Heading into the holiday season, during which families are traveling and celebrating together, he warns that many tribal communities are especially vulnerable.
“The dynamics of our communities is almost a risk factor for COVID 19 infection. Limited land base, high unemployment, overcrowded homes, not a lot of piping of water and access to water. These are just a lot of those conditions and that environment actually is conducive to COVID-19 transmission,” Seneca said.
The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reported increases in all three respiratory illnesses in its weekly bulletin.
“CDC has continued to monitor increases in respiratory illness reported recently among children, including potential elevated rates of pediatric pneumonia. These reported increases do not appear to be due to a new virus or other pathogen but to multiple viral or bacterial causes that we expect to see during the respiratory illness season,” the center reported last week.
Young children and older adults continue to lead in risk factors.
“I think what scares me is that the numbers are so alarming, really related to influenza. And at the same time we still have COVID on the rise,” said Seneca, CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions+, a public health and urban and regional planning company, and a citizen of the Seneca Nation.
Vaccinations are available for all three infections. CDC data shows that American Indian and Alaska Native populations lag behind all minority groups in vaccinations.
Seneca said there are more reports of a lingering cough associated with COVID at this time. He said it’s important to continue the triple response to the triple threat – social distancing, vaccinations and hand washing.
“Washing your hands for 20 seconds – 20 seconds is a long time to wash your hands. You know, people just wipe their hands on their pants. No, take the time. Get your thumbs, get your fingers and really do that for 20 seconds and then rinse off everything and wipe off with a towel dry with something else besides your pants or your sleeves,” Seneca advises.
Finally, stay home if any symptoms are present. What may appear as a minor head cold could become more serious. The CDC data showed an increase in reported illnesses after Thanksgiving.
Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter.